Diving device

ABSTRACT

Air supply to divers from the water surface. In a diving device for divings in shallow water, comprising a supply element (59) having a tubular shape with an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening for supplying air from the water surface to at least one diver&#39;s mouthpiece, there is arranged a pump (33) in the supply circuit to provide permanently a predetermined amount of air independently of the diving depth, even under the physiological limit of the pipe of 0.35 m under the water level. There is provided a device (63, 15, 87, 17) to actuate mechanically the pump (33) directly or indirectly by the diver.

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a diving device for diving in shallow water,with a tube shaped supply element with an air inlet and an air outletopening for supplying air from above the water surface to at least onediver's mouthpiece.

Such devices are known as air intakes. The tube like supply element ismostly rigid in the known devices, for example, a plastic tube. Forexample, it should be understood to also mean a flexible hose. Duringuse, the air inlet opening is disposed above the water surface and theair outlet opening which is formed in a mouthpiece or provided therewithis disposed in the mouth of the diver, for example. However, air intakeshave the disadvantage that the diver can remain constantly below thewater surface at a depth equal to the length of the air intake(conventionally 0.35 m), while at deeper diving depths he must return,at least at the end of his personal breath holding time capacity, to atleast the height of 0.35 m below the water surface for taking in of air,like any other diver without any auxilliary means.

Thereby, with an air intake the continous close observation of a processor a structure at depths of 1 to 2 m, which is a particularlyinteresting range for a diver, is not possible.

It was already suggested to merely extend the air intake for a constantobtaining of deeper diving depth. However, for physiological reasonssuch an air intake is not useable. When the lung is connected directlywith the air above the water surface, that is, the atmosphere, by meansof the air intake inlet opening an inner pressure prevails at the airoutlet opening and thereby in the lung which is equal to the airpressure on the water surface, i.e., of about (1.10⁵ Pa (≈1 atm 1 Bar(b)≈"10 m H₂ O"), since the additional air column with respect to theadditional water column is immaterial, while at the outside of the bodyand thereby also on the outside of the lung at a diving depth of, forexample, 1 m, the atmospheric pressure plus the pressure of theadditional water column of 1 m, that is about 1.1.10⁵ Pa (≈1.1 atm≈"11 mH₂ O") prevails. Therefore, a pressure differential of about 0.1.10⁵ Paexists. However, since already a positive pressure differential outerpressure ./. lung inner pressure of 0.06.10⁵ Pa (˜0.06 b˜0.6 m H₂ O)causes permanent damage due to a lung edema, the use of air intakeslonger than, for example, 0.6 m, represents a serious health hazard.

In addition, the lung can generate only a vacuum pressure whichcorresponds to about 0.5 m water column with active force, i.e., about0.05.10⁵ Pa, so that an air intake by means of an air intake means inlarger depth is made impossible anyhow.

For a longer stay below the water surface (i.e., for a considerablylarger time period than the breath holding capacity of the diver) divingdevices with compressed air bottles are known. Thereby, by means of anautomatic control air is delivered from a compressed air bottle, forexample, through a mouthpiece to the lungs corresponding to the givenwater pressure, so that the lungs are supplied with air, whereby thelung inside pressure is in the proximity of the outer pressure.

However, these diving devices require a considerable, expensive and inparticular heavy and unwieldy equipment, due to the pressure bottles.Due to the deeper diving depth made possible and the dangers connectedtherewith, its use requires a specific training. Furthermore, theduration for diving is limited by the bottle content and if nocompressed air station or a spare bottle is available, a renewed divingis not possible.

It is therefore an object of the invention to further improve a divingdevice of the mentioned type in such a manner that it is possible toobtain a permanent diving, i.e., in particular a diving independent froma limited air amount in shallow water depth, however also below thephysiological air intake limit of 0.35 m water depth, free from outsideassistance.

This object is solved in accordance with the invention in that an airpump is provided in the circuit of the supply element from the airintake opening to the air outlet opening on which actuating devices areprovided for the direct or indirect mechanical actuation by the diver.

An air pump is to be understood as any device which feeds atmosphericair from its suction side to its pressure side under excess pressure andis held there, i.e., that an escape of air from the space into which itwas fed, is prevented by the resistance of the pump. This can be, forexample, a suitable shaped bellows. Therefore, the air pump feeds air bycompression from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening.

In the circuit of the supply element this means, that the pump isswitched on in the tube like supply element (which, if need be, can bebisected), so that the intake side of the pump (suction pipe connection)faces the air intake opening and the pressure side of the pump (pressurepipe connection) faces the air outlet opening. In a borderline situationthis means however, that the pump is connected to one end of the supplyelement, so that the pressure pipe connection can be connected to theair intake opening and the suction pipe connection can be connected tothe air outlet opening.

The one upper part connected to the suction pipe connection of the pumpof the bisected tube like supply element if need be, can be eithershorter or longer with respect to the water surface, depending on themaximum permanent diving depth for the pump. Thereby, the maximum divingdepth is that diving depth up to which one can dive by using the divingequipment without forcibly pulling the air suction opening of the pumpor the air intake opening of the supply element below water.

The length of the other lower part which is mounted to the pressure pipeconnection of the pump also depends from the position provided for thepump and also from the provided maximum permanent diving depth.

In the simplest case, the actuating devices may be, for example, handlesor pedal like devices, or the like, for a direct actuation of the pump.However, they may be mounting devices and rods, cable ropes or similarpower transmission devices mounted thereon which permit an indirectmechanical actuation of the pump by the diver. It is important that twoengagement forces can be performed in order to move the actual pumpingpart, for example, the piston and the surrounding part, for example, thehousing of the pump at least in one direction with respect toward eachother.

The inventive solution in particular has the advantage that increasedpressure is fed to the diver in a simple manner, i.e., in particularwithout outside driven machines or the assistance of third orcomplicated and heavy devices, like compressed air devices, air from thewater surface, so as to correspond to the larger diving depths. Thereby,the required check valve which is present in any given shape in the pumpthat a direct connection exists between the lungs and the atmosphericair which is under a lower pressure. However, if need be a separatecheck valve may be provided.

Thereby, the actuating devices for the direct or indirect actuationpermit a mechanical actuation by the diver himself. This actuation ispreferably coordinated with the swimming movement, particularlypreferred with the leg movements, by suitably shaping the meanstherefor. Therefore, the invention permits a stay below the water inlarger depth than heretofore possible not being limited by the device.While during the air intake diving the diver must practically return tothe water surface at least at the end of his personal breath holdingtime capacity and while the compressed air device, due to the limitedfilling of the gas bottle, causes the diving to be limited to a durationof about 30' to 60', one can dive to depth of 3 to 4 m as long as onewants with the device in accordance with the invention. The forcerequired corresponds to a leisurely bicycle drive, as will beillustrated later.

Preferably, the pump is connected to the air intake opening and isprovided with drive means for holding at least the air intake openingabove the water surface up to the maximum permanent diving depth.

This has the particular advantage that the diver is connected directlyonly with the actuating devices and the supply element, i.e., namelywith a hose, while the pump is held above water by means of its liftingmeans, at least its suction opening, so that it can suction air. Inparticular, this permits a freer movement possibility for the diver.

Preferably, the lifting means are inflatable. This has the advantagewith respect to other lifting means, for example, styropore blocks, thatduring nonuse the lifting means hardly require any space and can have apractically light weight which further reduces the total weight of thedevice.

Preferably, a rotating part is provided driven by the pump movementparticularly preferred in shape of a rotating disk with a horizontalrotating axis during operation which is provided with differentlyreflecting sectors. Due to the horizontal rotating axis duringoperation, that is, when the pump is in the water the disk is positionedvertical with respect to the water face, can also be very well seen byother observers. Thereby the presence of the diver can be seen, on theone hand, and the actuation of the pump can be determined by the diver,on the other hand. The suggested further embodiment performs a locationand warning function.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the pump is positioned in thelower range of the tube like supply element, i.e. in the proximity ofthe air outlet opening, and mounting devices are provided to be mountedon the diver, preferably on the back of the diver. This, in particular,has the advantage that the diving device can be designed more compactsince only the connecting part and not the actuating devices must beguided to the water surface. Also, the lifting device, which is requiredand which is a preferably non-rigid connecting part, can be designedcorrespondingly smaller since it only has to support the weight of theconnecting part. Furthermore, the actuating paths between diver and pumpare correspondingly shorter, so that the actuating devices get lighterand have fewer friction losses, if need be. Due to the support or theholding of the housing on the body, only one part of the movementdevices may be provided, namely for the reciprocating movement of thepump piston (=supply element).

Preferably, the pump is driveable in particular by a reciprocatingmovement. Thereby, the transmission of the actuating body movements ofthe diver to the pump can be considerably simplified and in particularthe pump movement can be easier coordinated with the swim movements orit can completely coincide therewith.

The pump is preferably an intermittent operating pump, preferably apiston pump with reciprocating piston and a stroke volume whichcorresponds to a breathing volume at a light to medium body stress(1.5-3.1 l).

This is particularly advantageous in that the pump operates analogouswith the intermittent operating breathing, so that its actuation can beeasily adjusted to the natural breathing. Thereby, the feedable amountof breath which can be fed at a maximum by the pump corresponds to astrong breath, for example, to the reserve air (2-3 l) which the lungscan still absorb in addition to normal breathing, so that with onestroke an optimum usable air amount can be fed.

In a particularly preferable embodiment an accumulator is switchedbetween the opposite moving pump parts of the pump, which is chargedduring the pump movement in a direction, preferably the pressuredirection and drives the movement in the other direction, i.e. effectsthe return positioning of the piston, if need be.

This results in a particularly considerable simplification of the powertransmission, since the actuating device can be simplified because itmay consist of one part which reacts only to pull and one part whichreacts only to push.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the accumulator is a spring,preferably a torsion spring, which is restrained between the upper areaof the piston rod and the housing. Therefore, the piston has to be movedby an active actuation only into one direction toward the housing, whilethe counter movement is automatically performed during the reduction ofthe actuating force. Therefore, actuating means have to be providedwhich actuate the piston rod only in this one direction and therebysupport the housing.

Preferably, the part of the actuating devices, which is defined for theforce effect on the pumping part, is provided with a part whichsubstantially reacts to pull and the part of the actuating device, whichis defined for the other part of the actuating devices, is provided witha part which substantially reacts only to pressure. Such parts can bemade constructively simpler than parts which respond to pull andpressure absorbing the full force. For example, parts which respond onlyto pull, like ropes, take considerably less space in packed condition.

Preferably, the actuating devices are provided with at least one Bowdenpull. A Bowden pull is such a construction of parts which respondsubstantially only to pull or substantially only to pressure. Thereby,the particular advantage exists that both parts are flexible, but thatthe part (the sheath) which is loaded by pressure cannot bend sidewaysdue to the pull loaded part (rope or cable) guided therein.

Preferably, the part which is defined for the force effect to the onepump of the actuating device supports on a belt, preferably a divingbelt.

This has the particular advantage that the force effect must be carriedout actively only to one of the opposite moveable pump parts, forexample, by arm or leg movements, while the required counter force ofthe other part in the relative opposite direction is absorbed orperformed by the belt and finally by the body portion on which the beltis mounted. Instead of a belt which is mounted around the waist of thediver, in the narrow sense of the word, other devices which aremountable on the body may be used, like shoulder belts. Preferably, thepart of the actuating device which is stressed by pressure is thelongitudinally incompressible sheath of a Bowden pull and the part ofthe rope or cable of this Bowden pull which is stressed by pull.

This in particular makes it possible to overcome the longest part of thedistance to be overcome between the diver or the engagement meansactuated by him and the pump, or the mounting means mounted thereon,only by means of a Bowden pull.

Preferably, the one lower jacket of the Bowden pull is mounted on thebelt. In this manner, the jacket can transmit the pressure of the sheathto the belt.

Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the lower jacket extends transverseto the length of the belt and parallel to the belt plane in the mountingarea. Thereby, the particular advantage is obtained in that the force iseffective in transverse direction of the belt, whereby it isparticularly well absorbed by the body.

Preferably, the lower jacket is deflected in their upper areas facingthe jacket. This has the particular advantage that in this manner theBowden pull is moved away from the belt and body plane and thereby fromthe body itself, on the one hand, and that the pressure of the sheathimparts onto the jacket a force component vertical with respect to thebelt plane and thereby directly onto the body, whereby a lesser forcedisplaces the belt downward, i.e., in the direction of the legs.However, this presumes that the belt is "correctly" attached, i.e., withthe jacket directed upwardly (head direction) and the jacket opening forthe wire (downwardly), i.e., in the leg direction.

Preferably, the lower jacket of the Bowden pull is rotatably mounted.Thereby, a freer moveability of the diver is obtained.

Preferably, the end of the wire which extends from the lower jacket ofthe Bowden pull is connected with a rope.

While a wire is preferred in the Bowden pull, because it requires aminimum of space and has a minimum of friction, the use of a rope, inparticular a soft plastic rope has the advantage that no injuries canoccur during actuation.

Preferably, the rope is guided over the roller of a roller shackle whichis mounted at the end of the wire. Thereby, a pull can be performed atboth ends of the rope and thereby also at a changeable length (however,at constant sums of the length) from the end of the wire to the bodyparts to be actuated. Therefore, the actuating legs could be at adifferent angle, for example.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the rope is provided at least atits one end with a device for mounting at the lower area of the leg ofthe driver, preferably a foot loop.

This measure in particular has the advantage that at a suitabledimensioning of the length of the rope for pulling the wire from theBowden pull out of the jacket, so that the pump is actuablecorresponding to the leg movement during swimming. The connectionbetween the active body part and the wire is naturally not limited to arope, but the wire can be correspondingly extended. However, a rope, inparticular a soft one is preferred.

Preferably, the sheath of the Bowden pull is connected with the housingand the wire of the Bowden pull is connected with the moveable pumpingpart within the housing. Thereby, during an actuation of the Bowdenpull, the piston is moved in the pump, while the pump housing issupported by means of the sheath and the other end of the sheath issupported by a rigid part relative to the diver, for example, thesacrum, so that the sheath remains stationary.

Preferably, the other upper jacket of the Bowden pull extends throughthe bottom of a cylindrical housing of the pump into the pressurechamber and the wire is connected with a part of the piston guidedwithin the cylinder facing the pressure chamber. This design has theparticular advantage that the wire and the sheath can be guidedparticularly simply, in particular it does not have to be deflected orguided around the outside of the pump.

Preferably, the upper jacket of the Bowden pull is extended almost tothe upper closure of the pump housing and a bore is provided in thepiston for the jacket, whereby the bore is extended by a pipe parallelto the movement direction of the piston which is closeable above by thevalve which connects the pressure cylinder with the outside air and thatthe wire of the Bowden pull is mounted on a retaining part positioned inthe upper part of the pipe and the upper closure is provided with anopening permitting the extension of the pipe therethrough. This inparticular is advantageous in that the Bowden pull is not completelysealed against penetrating water but that the pump can be immerseddeeper than usual into the water, since the outlet of the Bowden pullcan be positioned high with respect to the pump chamber withoutimpairing the simple attaching of the Bowden pull. Thereby, the pipeacts simultaneously like a piston rod pushing on the piston from aboveto below.

Preferably, an excess pressure valve is provided in the proximity of theair, outlet opening which is preferably provided with a mouth piece ofthe tube element connecting part. This in particular has the advantagethat no additional air can be pumped into an already completely filledlung, but that it escapes through the excessive pressure valve. Inaddition the excess pressure valve permits the breathing out and alsothrough the breathing opening through which the breathing occurs.

Preferably, the excess pressure valve is provided with a spring whichopens the valve at an excess pressure in the tube like connecting pieceat 0.2-3 preferably at 0.5 KPA. This is an excess pressure at which thelung is not damaged yet, on the one hand, and which permits thebreathing out, on the other hand.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail inconjunction with preferred embodiments with respect to the attacheddrawings which are particularly referred to due to the extensiveclearness and distinctiveness. The drawing shows.

FIG. 1 a view of the preferred embodiment of elements of the actuatingdevice for an indirect mechanical actuation of the pump in form of abelt with the Bowden pull attached thereto;

FIG. 2 a section through a preferred embodiment of an air pump inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 a section through a further embodiment of an air pump inaccordance with the invention, and

FIG. 4 a partially sectional and schematized view of the mouth piece inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a belt 1 made of a tough plastic, for example PVC. The beltis preferably adjustable in its length (not shown). At the ends thereofa rapid locking device 3 is mounted which is usually employed withdiving belts, for example, riveted (31). At the one side of the belt,that is, during wearing on the outer side of the belt a pressure plate 5is securely fastened on the center of its longitudinal extension,preferably riveted thereon. Preferably this plate 5 is made of acorrosion resistant material, like precious steel. It measures, forexample, 100 mm (length in longitudinal direction of the belt)×80 mm(width in transverse direction of the belt) and is about 2 mm thick. Itserves to absorb the counter forces during the actuation of the pump, aswill be explained in the following. One jacket 9 of a Bowden or ropepull generally designated with the reference numeral 11 is mounted onthe plate 5 by means of a clamp like mounting 7. Thereby, the axis ofthe jacket is positioned parallel to the transverse extension of thebelt, in the drawing the (shorter) transverse extension from the top tothe bottom. In its upper portion the jacket is somewhat deflected fromplate 5, so that its axis extends oblique with respect to the plateplane at this point. The jacket 9 is mounted by the clamp 7 on plate 5in such a manner that it is rotatable around its longitudinal axis byabout 180°. A slight longitudinal displacement in the direction of thelongitudinal axis of the jacket is limited by abutments 13 on thejacket. At the upper somewhat deflected end of jacket 9, the sheath 15of the Bowden pull 11 is mounted when attaching the belt. This consistsof a helical wire, which is provided with a PVC, for example, but whichis also corrosion resistant. The sheath 15 is incompressible in itslongitudinal direction. Thereby, it can transmit the pressure forcesexerted thereon by its other end (not shown in FIG. 1) through thejacket 9, the upper abutments 13, the clamp 7 and the plate 5 onto thebelt. It transmits the force symmetrically to the wearer of the belt dueto the location of the plate in the center of the belt. From the loweropening of jacket 9, facing away from sheath 15, the rope or the wire ofthe Bowden pull exits.

The end of the wire 17 extends in its maximum upwardly displacedposition, i.e. at a maximum pushed in position of jacket 9, about 30 mmfrom jacket 9. A roller shackle 21 is mounted on the lower end of thewire. A rope 25 is mounted over roller 23 of the shackle. Preferably therope 25 consists of a softer material, for example, nylon or anothersimilar plastic material. The rope 25 has a length which corresponds toabout twice the distance between the sacrum and the feet which arepulled in by a swimmer in the breast stroke position. Preferably, it isadjustable in its length (not shown). On the two ends of the rope 23which is guided over roller 23, devices are provided for mounting therope on the feet of the diver. In the simplest case they may be footloops 27. The roller shackle 21 is not necessarily required, but it hasthe advantage that a force is transmitted by both legs even at adifferent stretching of the legs, so as to pull the wire 17 in thedirection of the arrow 19 from the jacket 9. However, it can also beseen that both halves of rope 25 may be individually mounted on wire 19,for example, for leg amputees, so that only one halve of rope 25 may beprovided.

Diver weights are designated with the reference numeral 29 which can bemounted on belt 1 in a conventional manner. The rivets for connectingthe individual parts with each other are designated with the referencenumeral 31.

In FIG. 2, the pump is shown in a sectional view and in particular themounting of the actuating devices thereon. The pump which is generallydesignated with the reference numeral 33 is designed as a piston pump.It has a cylindrical housing 35 wherein a piston 37 is sealingly guided.The sealing is obtained by suitable rubber rings 39. The piston 37separates the inner space of the housing 35 into two changeable partialchambers 41 and 43. Continous bores 45 are provided in piston 37 whichare closed at excess pressure in the lower partial chamber 43 withrespect to the upper partial chamber 41, that is in the pressure phaseof the pump, by a schematically shown valve plate 47, so that the form avalve therewith. This valve opens in the suction phase, so that air canpenetrate through the reduced chamber 41 into the enlarging chamber 43.Continous bores 53 are provided in the bottom plate of the housingbottom plate 51 which also constitutes the bottom of the partial chamber43, whereby these bores are closeable by an also schematically shownvalve plate 55, so that bores 53 and the valve plate 55 together form asecond valve. The opening facing away from the partial chamber 43 of thesecond valve leads into a socket 57 mounted on the bottom plate 51. Thissocket 57 is introduced into the air inlet opening of the tube likesupply element which is designed as a flexible rubber hose 59. Therubber hose 59 is safely connected by suitable connecting means, likehose connectors.

The second valve 53,55 closes at excess pressure in the rubber hose 59with respect to the changeable lower partial chamber 43, in particularin the suction phase of the pump, while it opens at the excess pressurein chamber 43 with respect to hose 59, in particular in the pressurephase. The hose 59 ends in an air outlet opening designed as a mouthpiece (see FIG. 4).

The valves are so dimensioned with respect to size and the necessaryforces for their opening, so that during diving in an air intake depth anormal air intake breathing is made possible without mechanicalassistance.

A jacket 63 is inserted in the center of the bottom part 51 which servesas the other second jacket for the Bowden pull. The sheath 15 is mountedon jacket 63, while the rope 17 extends therethrough. The rope or thewire 17 is centrally connected on piston 37 by means of a mounting part65 which in turn is integrally connected with piston 37.

By a pull in the direction of arrow 67 the piston 37 is pulleddownwardly and thereby compresses the air in the area 43 since valve45,47 closes.

An accumulator is mounted on piston 37, in this case a restoring rubber69. The restoring rubber 69 runs over a deflection roller 71 with itsrotational axis 73 in a direction vertical with respect to the axis ofhousing 35. The other end of the restoring rubber 69 is fixedly anchoredon a mounting part 75 which in return is adjustably mounted on the outerwall of the housing 35. Thereby, the pretension of the restoring rubbercan be adjusted.

Colored sectors are mounted on the outer free side face or both sidefaces of the deflection roller 71. These fulfill a warning functionsimilar to a bright colored paint which can be mounted on housing 15 andthereby make it possible in a simple manner whether the roller 71rotates due to the design as sectors, that means whether the pump isactuated by the diver or not.

A circular shaped swim element 77 is connected with housing 35 in such amanner that it maintains the housing with its longitudinal axissubstantially vertical when the swim element and the housing areimmersed in the water 79. The lifting obtained by the swimmer 77 is socalculated that at least the air entry opening 49 of the housing,preferably also the opening of the sheath 63 in chamber 43 is held abovewater when the lifting element 77 is charged by the weight of pump 33,hose 59 and the Bowden pull 11.

Preferably, the swimmer is inflateable as indicated by the rubber socket81 with stopper 83. It is, for example, an air balloon type structurewhich has a sufficient rigidity, on the one hand, but which require onlysmall space when the air has been released.

It is obvious that in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the pump is positionedon the upper end of the tube like supply element 59. This isadvantageous, as mentioned, that the diver can move independent from thepump and that it can perform much better as a warning and locatingfunction.

However, a second upper part of the tube like connecting piece may bemounted on the air suction opening 49, for example, by means of asocket, so that the pump can be completely immersed into the water bymeans of a suitable dimensioning of the lifting means 77. Depending onthe stability of the vertical position of the pump the upper part of thetube like connecting piece is designed rigid or flexible, in the lattercase provided with an own lifting device which maintains the air inletopening above the water surface.

In FIG. 3 a further embodiment of the pump is shown and a part of theassociated actuating devices for its actuation in accordance with theinvention. The same reference numerals, indicate the same orcorresponding parts as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The embodiment in accordance with FIG. 3 differs from the embodiment inaccordance with FIG. 2 in particular in that the sheath 63' of theBowden pull 11 extends through the bottom 51 into the inner space of thehousing 35 to the proximity of the upper cover 51' of the housing. Thejacket is shaped as a thin rigid tube. This extension of the jacketmakes it possible to immerse the pump deeper into the water due tosuitable attachment and dimensioning of the inflatable swimmers 77. Thisconsiderably increases the stability of the pump against tilting.However, it is essential to have the outlet opening for the wire 17outside of jacket 63' (as already mentioned in FIG. 2) and above thewater surface since a complete sealing of the Bowden pull is mostly notobtainable, so that the Bowden pull is filled with water during the useof the device in accordance with the principle of the communicatingpipes up to the height of the water surface.

In order to enable a movement of the piston 37' of the pump over thetotal length of housing 35, a bore is provided in the center of thepiston for the penetration of the piston through the jacket 63' which isextended upwardly by a sealing rigid piston tube. Therefore, this tubestill belongs to the lower partial chamber 43 of the pump and istherefore closed on top by valve 45',47' in such a manner that the valveplate 47' only opens the opening 45' only at a vacuum pressure inchamber 43 with respect to the atmospheric pressure.

A screen plate 87 is provided vertically with respect to thelongitudinal axis within pipe 85 which permits the throughput of airflowing through valve 47', on the one hand, and permits the centralmounting of the pulling rope or the Bowden pull wire 17, on the otherhand. By mounting the Bowden pull wire 17 on the screen plate 87 andthereby on pipe 85, the pipe 85 acts as a piston rod pushing the piston37' downwardly in the direction of the arrow 67 when pulling the wire17.

A detachable flange 89 is guided around the pipe in the proximity of theupper end of pipe 85 against which a torsion spring 93 supports and isheld against a lateral displacement by a flange 91 directed downwardlyin a vertical position toward the pump housing. With its other end thetorsion spring 93 supports on the upper housing closure 51' on which itis secured against the lateral displacement by a flat socket 95 whichcorresponds to its diameter. A bore for the throughput of pipe 85 isprovided on the upper housing closure 51' which simultaneously serves asa pressure equalizer opening.

The metal bottom part 51 as well as the upper closure 51' is screwedtogether with the cylinder wall of housing 35. The socket 57 includingthe valve 53',55' is also screwed into the bottom part 51. Also screwedto the bottom part 51 is the socket 63'.

A spray protector 97 is provided for covering the valve opening 45' withair inlet openings 49 which prevents the penetration of water at roughseas. The arrangement of the valve 45',47' on the upper end of the pipealready makes a penetration of water rather difficult.

FIG. 4 shows the design of the air outlet opening of the tube likesupply element 59. The air outlet is shaped like a mouth piece 99, as isknown from air intake or compressed air devices. In addition, abreathing out valve is provided which is generally assigned with thereference numeral 101 in the proximity of the hose 59 in close proximityto the mouth piece.

In view of the fact that the breathing out valve is provided in theproximity of the mouth piece, it is admitted at its water side withabout the same pressure which also prevails on the outside of the lungs.A torsion spring 103 on the valve closure prevents an opening of thevalve if a slightly larger pressure prevails than the watersidepressure. For example, the torsion spring can be so adjusted that itopens the valve at a mouthpiece side excess pressure of 500 Pa (0.005Bar). The breathing out valve has two advantages: First, it permits abreathing out through the mouth, without detaching the mouth frommouthpiece 99. Secondly, it prevents that air is pumped by the pump intoan already completely filled lung, whereby a damaging excess pressuremay be generated in the lung. During normal breathing in and out rhythmwhereby the lung can expand during each renewed filling, only thepressure has to be overcome which prevails on the outside of the lung,since the lung is filled comparable with a limp air balloon under water.Therefore, in the lung and on the pressure side half of the pump onlythe water pressure prevails on the outside of the lung until reachingthe fill limit of the lung.

In the following the mode of operation of the total device is described,whereby the unprimed and primed reference numerals also indicate to theprimed reference numerals.

In a first condition of the total device the Bowden pull wire 17 is inthe condition shown in FIG. 1, i.e., in the sheath 15 displaced as faras possible in the direction of the pump. Thereby, the roller shackle 21is pulled close to the belt 1, it is in the proximity of the sacrum ofthe diver during use. The feet of the diver which are in the loops 27are also pulled in. In this condition the piston 37 in pumps 33 of FIGS.2 and 3 are in the uppermost position relative to the pump housing,i.e., the pump has suctioned the maximum possible air amount. The lengthof the Bowden wire 17 is naturally correspondingly dimensioned. Thelength of the Bowden pull sheath is the result from the maximum desireddiving depth and the position of the pump relative to the water surface.In this first condition, the accumulators 69 or 93 are relaxed and thevalves 53,55 are closed due to the excess pressure prevailing in hose59, so that the pressure cannot escape, so that a pressure prevails onthe inside of the length corresponding to the diving depth.

By stretching one or both legs, the feet move away from the sacrum ofthe diver and thereby the loops 27 and pull the roller shackle 21 bymeans of the rope 25 from the plate 5 mounted on belt 1. Thereby, theBowden pull wire 17 which is mounted on the roller shackle is pulled outof jacket 9 and displaces relative with respect to sheath 15 of theBowden pull. Thereby, the Bowden pull wire 17 pull down the screen plate87 and the pipe 85 which acts as a piston rod and also the piston 37,i.e., in the pressure direction of the pump. The pump housing is usableto follow this movement since it is supported over the jacket 63 and theincompressible sheath 15 of the Bowden pull, as well as by the lowerjacket 9 and the plate 5 on the belt 1 and thereby finally substantiallyon the sacrum of the diver. Thereby, piston 37 displaces in housing 35,whereby the air is compressed in the lower changeable partial space 43.Thereby, the excess pressure which is generated in chamber 43 closes thevalve 45,47 and opens the valve 55, after reaching the pressureprevailing in hose 59. Now the air in the chamber 43 is sufficientlycompressed as it corresponds to the total space with which it is inconnection, namely the lung and the hose 59. The water pressuresurrounding the lung prevails in the lung as far as it is stillexpansionable, so that the air from chamber 43 is fed to the lung fromchamber 43 by the further movement of piston 47 and inflates the lung.Naturally, this operation can be supported by the breathing activity ofthe diver. The pump diameter and the pump stroke (for example, about 10cm or about 30 cm) are so dimensioned that a stroke volume of 2 to 3liter is obtained which corresponds to a strong breathing. Normally, inthe first condition of the device the lung is in the breathing outposition, so that it can receive the air from the pump. Should that notbe the case, because the diver did not breath out while pulling in thelegs, so that the lung is filled up to its absorption capability thebreathing valve 101 opens during a further compression of the air whichcorresponds to an excess pressure with respect to the lung and the waterpressure of 500 Pa (0.005 Bar) surrounding the mouth piece, whereby thebreathing valve 101 is held in a closed position up to this excesspressure. Thereby, even at an erroneous operating of the device there isno danger, since excess pressure begins to become dangerous to the lungonly at about 15000 Pa (0.15 Bar). When the diver actively closes theair pipe an excess pressure is generated in chamber 43 of the pump andalso in hose 59 which opens the valve 101 when exceeding a value of 500Pa.

After breathing in, the diver pulls in the feet again in a swimmovement. Thereby, the diver advantageously breathes out, either withexcess pressure through the mouthpiece 99 and the valve 101, or throughthe nose. During pulling in of the legs the pull on rope 35 and therebyon the wire 17 of the Bowden pull is released. The piston 37 of the pumpis pulled upwardly by the accumulator in form of the restoring rubber 69or the spring 93 which opens the valves 43,47 and closes the valves53,55. The stroke between the sacrum and the feet plane is about 30 cmin direction of the body longitudinal axis during a swim stroke of agrown up person, whereby the piston stroke is adjusted thereto. Duringthe movement of the piston 37 in an upward direction it sucks air intothe chamber 43, so that the initially described initial stage is againrestored and the pump is again brought into the second stage by arenewed stretching of the legs and thereby by a renewed pull on theBowden pull 19.

The least amount of force to be generated by the diver depends on thediving depth, on the one hand, and from the cross sectional face of thepiston 37, on the other hand. After opening the valve 53,55 a pressureprevails in the chamber 43 and therefore also on the piston whichcorresponds to the inner pressure of the lung and thereby again to theouter pressure of the lung. However, the latter is defined by the normalair pressure and the water column corresponding to the diving depth. Ata diving depth of 2 m this corresponds to an additional "2 m H₂ O",i.e., 20 000 Pa (0.1 Bar). At a diameter of the piston of 10 cm andthereby a cross sectional face of about 0.008 m² a force is generated onthe piston of

    2.10.sup.4 Pa.80.10.sup.-4 m.sup.2 =160N

which has to be overcome. In addition there is a certain force effortfor overcoming the piston friction and the friction in the Bowden pulletc. Furthermore, the force for stressing the accumulator must be alsogenerated. Totally, the force which has to be generated corresponds tothe one generated during a leisurely bicycle ride. Due to the increasingforce demand and/or increasing stroke (when reducing the diameter of thepiston for reducing the required force), the action radius to the depthis also reduced. Therefore, the Bowden pull and the tube like supplyelement are essentially so dimensioned that a maximum diving depth of 2to 3 m is obtained while the air intake opening has not been pulledbeneath the water which would make a suctioning of air impossible.Preferably, the lifting force of the swim body 77 is so dimensioned thata deeper diving than in the length of the connection to the surface isnot possible by the inherited force of the diver, so that the airsuctioning opening cannot be accidentally pulled below water.

The force which has to be generated by the legs is effective over theBowden pull on the sacrum, but which is very able to absorb this forcedue to the structure of the belt.

In practical tests, a pump of the trademark Metzler, article number210-5424 has been successful, whereby a spring with a force of about50-100^(n) was tensioned between the piston rod and the housing and bywhich two styropore blocks of about 25.50.10 cm³ are kept above thewater surface. Thereby a hose connection of 2 m from the pressure socketwas chosen. The hose and the Bowden pull were connected up to theproximity of the body which increased the stability of the device.

From the aforegoing it can be seen that the structure shown in theexemplified embodiment makes it possible that the diver can dive by themere movement of the pulling in and pushing out of the legs which areknown to each diver during swimming, which also serves to the furthermovement without any large apparatus effort into depth which are ofinterest to the intake air diver, which were heretofore not able toreach without compressed air bottles, for any given length of time whichis merely limited by other physiological circumstances (tiring,undercooling).

The diving in these depths does not cause any other dangers, since nodecompression times have to be considered, and one can rapidly emerge,while the air supply is unlimited. Therefore, it is in no way moredangerous than the usual air intake diving.

I claim:
 1. A diving device for underwater breathing comprising:(a) anair conduit having an inlet for receiving air from above the water andan outlet for delivering air to at least one mouth piece; (b) areciprocating piston air pump including a pump closure for deliveringair to the air conduit inlet upon the compression stroke of said pump;(c) means actuated by the diver including a cable connected to saidpiston for causing the compression stroke of said pump upon the pullingof said cable; (d) biasing means for returning said piston for theinstake stroke of said pump upon the completion of the compressionstroke; and (e) a check valve in said air conduit permitting air to passthrough to said air conduit outlet upon said compression stroke andclosing upon said intake stroke.
 2. The diving device as defined inclaim 1, wherein the displacement of said piston pump is designed tocorrespond with a breathing volume at light to medium body stress. 3.The diving device as defined in claim 1, which further includes:(a) atube extending from said piston parallel to the direction of motion, theend connected to said piston being open to the volume of said pump belowsaid piston; (b) a longitudinally incompressible sheath fixedlyextending into said pump and through the open end of said tube in saidpiston to near the upper closure of said pump, said cable of saidactuating means being displaceably moveable in said sheath and connectedto the other end of said tube; (c) a check valve in said tube forpermitting air to enter said pump volume below said piston upon theintake stroke of said pump and being closed upon the compression strokeof said pump; and (d) an opening in the upper closure of said pumpthrough which said tube passes.
 4. The diving device as defined in claim1, which further includes an overpressure valve in said air conduit nearsaid outlet for allowing the overpressure therein to escape.
 5. Thediving device as defined in claim 4, wherein said overpressure valveincludes a biasing means which opens the valve at an overpressure in theair conduit of 0.2 to 3 kPa.
 6. The diving device as defined in claim 4,wherein said overpressure valve includes a biasing means which opens thevalve at an overpressure in the air conduit of 0.5 kPa.